Hotels are one of the most common ways bed bugs hitch rides into Pittsburgh homes. It doesn’t matter if you’re staying at a budget motel or a five-star resort. Bed bugs don’t discriminate based on cleanliness or price point. They’re opportunistic travelers that spread through luggage, clothing, and personal belongings.
The good news is that you can protect yourself with simple precautions before, during, and after your hotel stay.
Why Hotels Are Bed Bug Hotspots
Hotels provide perfect conditions for bed bugs to spread. Hundreds of travelers pass through hotel rooms each year, each one potentially carrying bed bugs from previous locations. Bed bugs hide in luggage, backpacks, clothing, and other belongings, moving from room to room undetected.
Even immaculate hotels can have bed bugs. These pests don’t infest dirty spaces, they infest spaces with regular human activity. A single traveler bringing bed bugs from home can introduce them to a hotel room, where they then spread to subsequent guests.
Housekeeping staff unknowingly transfer bed bugs between rooms on carts, vacuum cleaners, and cleaning supplies. By the time hotels discover an infestation, bed bugs may have already spread to multiple rooms.
Inspect Before You Unpack
Never bring luggage into a hotel room until you’ve inspected for bed bugs. This is the single most important step in preventing bed bugs from coming home with you.
Start in the Bathroom
Leave your luggage in the bathroom or on the luggage rack initially. Bed bugs don’t typically infest bathrooms because there’s nowhere to hide near sleeping humans. This gives you a safe staging area while you inspect the sleeping area.
Check the Bed Thoroughly
Strip back all bedding including sheets, blankets, and mattress pads. Inspect the mattress carefully, paying special attention to:
- Seams and piping around the edges
- Corners and crevices
- Any tears or damage to the mattress cover
- The area where the mattress meets the box spring
Look for live bed bugs, shed skins, dark fecal spots, or small blood stains. Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and reddish-brown. Younger bed bugs are smaller and lighter in color.
Inspect the Box Spring and Frame
Pull the bed away from the wall if possible. Check the box spring, especially the bottom and corners. Inspect the bed frame, headboard, and any furniture touching the bed.
Use your phone’s flashlight to see into cracks and crevices. Bed bugs hide in the smallest spaces during daylight hours.
Check Furniture Near the Bed
Inspect nightstands, chairs, and any upholstered furniture in the room. Check behind picture frames and wall hangings near the bed. Look at the edges of carpeting where it meets baseboards.
If you find any signs of bed bugs, request a different room in a different part of the hotel or find a different hotel entirely. Don’t accept a room next door or directly above or below the infested room, as bed bugs can travel through wall voids.
Smart Luggage Practices
How you handle your luggage makes a huge difference in preventing bed bugs.
Use the Luggage Rack
Never put luggage on the bed or floor. Use the provided luggage rack and position it away from walls. Before placing your suitcase on the rack, inspect the rack itself for signs of bed bugs.
If no luggage rack is available, keep your suitcase in the bathroom or bathtub, as these hard, smooth surfaces are less hospitable to bed bugs.
Keep Belongings Contained
Don’t scatter your belongings around the room. Keep clothing in your suitcase rather than unpacking into drawers. Bed bugs can hide in dresser drawers and transfer to your clothes.
Store your suitcase closed when you’re not actively packing or unpacking. This limits access points for bed bugs.
Use Protective Bags
Consider using large plastic bags or bed bug-proof luggage liners for your suitcase. This creates a barrier between your belongings and any bed bugs in the room.
Store dirty laundry in sealed plastic bags rather than loose in your suitcase. This prevents bed bugs from hiding in worn clothing.
When You Return Home
Your precautions don’t end when you check out of the hotel. How you handle your belongings when returning home is critical.
Unpack Outside or in the Garage
Don’t bring luggage directly into your bedroom. Unpack in the garage, basement, or even outside if weather permits. This keeps potential bed bugs away from your sleeping area.
Wash Everything Immediately
Wash all clothing, even items you didn’t wear, in hot water. Dry everything on the highest heat setting your fabrics can tolerate for at least 30 minutes. Heat kills bed bugs at all life stages.
Items that can’t be washed should be dried on high heat or sealed in plastic bags for several weeks to ensure any bed bugs die.
Vacuum and Inspect Luggage
Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly, paying special attention to seams, pockets, and corners. Dispose of the vacuum bag immediately in a sealed plastic bag outside your home.
Inspect your luggage carefully for any signs of bed bugs. Consider storing luggage in the garage or basement rather than in bedroom closets.
Inspect Your Bed
After returning from travel, periodically check your own bed for signs of bed bugs over the next few weeks. Early detection makes treatment much easier.
Additional Prevention Tips
Keep your luggage elevated when traveling. In airports, train stations, and other public spaces, avoid placing bags on the floor where bed bugs might be present.
When using shared laundry facilities while traveling, transport clothes to and from machines in sealed plastic bags. Don’t fold clean laundry on potentially contaminated surfaces.
Research hotels before booking. Check online reviews for mentions of bed bugs. While any hotel can get bed bugs, properties with repeated complaints warrant extra caution.
What If You Suspect You Brought Bed Bugs Home
If you notice bites or find signs of bed bugs after traveling, act immediately. Early infestations are much easier to eliminate than established populations.
Don’t try to handle bed bugs yourself with store-bought sprays. These products often scatter bed bugs throughout your home, making professional treatment more difficult and expensive.
At Stewart Termite & Pest Control, we’ve eliminated bed bug infestations from countless Pittsburgh homes, including cases where travelers unknowingly brought them home from hotels. We use comprehensive treatment methods that target all life stages of bed bugs and prevent re-infestation.
If you’re concerned about bed bugs after traveling or have found signs of an infestation, call us at 412-822-7610. We’ll inspect your home thoroughly and implement treatment that eliminates bed bugs completely, giving you peace of mind and protecting your home from these persistent pests.